the almanac M AY 12, 2024
SOUTH HILLS COMMUNITY NEWS
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Nearly 300 mail-in ballots rejected in Washington Co. due to fatal flaws Out of the 286 ballots that were its April 11 meeting, with RepubliElections officials received by the elections office but can Commissioners Nick Sherman not counted, 251 contained errors and Electra Janis voting against the did not permit that could have been “cured” by vot- procedure and Democratic Commishad the county’s elections board sioner Larry Maggi voting in favor ballot curing ahead ers permitted that process in the days of allowing people to fix mistakes. up to the April 23 primary. Ballot curing – which was permitted of April 23 primary leading According to the election office’s
By Mike Jones Staff writer
mjones@observer-reporter.com
MIKE JONES/OBSERVER-REPORTER
This photo of a mail-in ballot’s envelope and secrecy envelope shows the instructions given to voters to sign and date before returning it to their county’s elections office.
Nearly 300 mail-in and absentee ballots from last month’s primary were not counted in Washington County due to fatal flaws such as missing signatures or issues with the date.
figures, 185 of the ballots – the vast majority of the ones with flaws – were signed but either had no date, an incomplete date or an incorrect date, meaning they could not be counted due to state election laws. Another 52 ballots were neither signed nor dated. The county’s elections board voted 2-1 to not allow ballot curing during
in neighboring Fayette and Greene counties – would have allowed elections workers to notify voters who made mistakes on their ballot envelopes to come to the county offices in person to correct any errors so their vote would be counted. The elections office received 11,471 total mail-in and absentee SEE BALLOTS PAGE A2
Moving forward
North Strabane approves conditional use for proposed housing plan near Peters Lake
By Karen Mansfield Staff writer
kmansfield@observer-reporter.com
North Strabane supervisors April 30 unanimously approved the conditional use application for a 41-home development along Peters Lake in North Strabane Township. Supervisors attached 11 conditions to the approval that was granted for The Collective at Peters Lake, a development by Laurel Communities LLC. During the meeting, several people – including several Peters Township residents – spoke about their concerns that the development has the potential to impact wildlife and water quality, and result in increased traffic. The conditions the developer must meet include completing a traffic impact study, water quality testing, an extension of the public water line the length of North Spring Valley Road, building sidewalks leading to the park, and compliance with the township’s stormwater ordinance. The development is in the early stages, and township manager Andy Walz said the developer next must apply for state permitting through the Department of Environmental Protection, which could take up to a year. “It’s not anywhere near the construction phase,” said Walz. On its website, the Friends of Peters Lakes said they would continue to fight to preserve the lake.
BRAD HUNDT/OBSERVER-REPORTER
Pennsylvania Secretary of Labor and Industry Nancy Walker swears in Sam Holmes, a fifth-grade student in the Fort Cherry School District, as the mayor of Biz Town.
Labor & Industry secretary talks with Fort Cherry students By Brad Hundt Staff writer
bhundt@observer-reporter.com
KAREN MANSFIELD/OBSERVER-REPORTER
Diane Damon, left, and Linda Lopez walk Lopez’s dog Mocha at Peters Lake last month.
Nancy Walker is “the entire boss of all jobs in Pennsylvania.” That’s how Walker, Pennsylvania’s secretary of the Department of Labor and Industry, was introduced to fifth-graders from the Fort Cherry School District May 6 at Junior Achievement’s Biz Town in South Fayette Township. Indeed, Walker oversees a sprawling department that has a $1.5 billion annual budget and oversees
everything from unemployment compensation to elevator inspection within the commonwealth. Walker was at Biz Town for the start of Youth Apprenticeship Week, a nationwide initiative spotlighting the value and benefits registered apprenticeship programs have for young people aged 16 to 24. Walker also met with high school students from the Western Area Career and Technology Center in Chartiers Township about career readiness. SEE TALKS PAGE A2
Doggie ’dos AT RIGHT: Mary Yoders, of Mt. Morris, grooms Sergeant Major, one of the top Clumber Spaniels in the country, before showtime. AT FAR RIGHT: Marina Buzhaker grooms Orca, an Old English sheepdog, at the 2024 Black Diamond Cluster Dog Show, held April 26 to 29 in Morgantown, W.Va. Buzhaker is an owner-handler from Rutherforton, N.C., who appeared for the second time this year at the show. Story and more photos appear on Page B3.
Photos by Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
MT. LEBANON Author explains how we have power over food choices PAGE A4 What’s happening, B3
SPORTS USC looking to etch name on WPIAL lacrosse trophy PAGE B1 Real estate transactions, A2
SIGHTS & SOUNDS Locals compete in West Virginia dog show PAGE B3 Classifieds, B4-6